An overwhelming number of agencies affiliated with TRAVELSAVERS Canada hope to add more advisors in the next year, with 25% saying they’ll hire as many ‘good’ ones as they can. And while 89% of agencies plan to or may hire advisors in the coming year, almost two-thirds say it’s not easy to find qualified applicants.

In conjunction with Travel Advisor Day, this new survey of TRAVELSAVERS Canada consultants provides insights into one of the profession’s biggest current challenges: an advisor shortage.

Jane Clementino, TRAVELSAVERS (Photo Credit: Jane Clementino, TRAVELSAVERS)

“The travel industry has definitely bounced back and we’re delighted to experience such momentum around leisure travel,” said Jane Clementino, SVP and General Manager, TRAVELSAVERS Canada.

“Our concern is not having enough staff to support the increased clientele, and while our affiliate agencies are continuously searching for new employees, they tell us that candidates tend to lack in skill set. As an industry, we have an obligation to attract new talent to get ahead of the huge demand we face.”

Advisors Retiring As Need For New Ones Increases

TRAVELSAVERS Canada says the cause of the shortage is twofold. As more travellers seek the expertise of a consultant, the market for travel agency services is increasing and is expected to grow. Simultaneously, experienced advisors are leaving the business. The Travel Institute says 36% of agencies lost staff during the pandemic, and 56% of those haven’t replaced them. Also, two-thirds of advisors today are over 50, with retirement nearing. Only 6% of advisors are under 35.

The Struggle To Source New Talent

In an often-challenging search for advisors, agencies report using a variety of methods to locate candidates. The most common are referrals from others (56%), job listings (47%), social media posts (36%), and networking (33%). Another issue hampering the quest for talent is lack of awareness. A startling 23% of advisors surveyed say people don’t know the profession still exists.

Advisors and suppliers at a TRAVELSAVERS Canada Dine & Discover Dinner in Burnaby, BC. (Photo Credit: TRAVELSAVERS CANADA)

Issues With Potential New Entrants

When agencies do locate interested prospects, misconceptions about the field often deter candidates. Many underestimate the amount of work required to build a clientele while overestimating earnings. Some believe they will journey the world for free. Yet others lack the talent and background to be successful.

About 60% of advisors surveyed say applicants don’t have the right combination of skillsand abilities. They also say the pay isn’t high enough to attract qualified candidates, and 30% say candidates aren’t willing to work hard to establish a book of business. Thirty-two per cent report applicants only want to travel for free.

“It’s really important to recognize that as a travel advisor, you’re running your own business,” said Clementino. “And this boils down to three key things – investing in building a network getting the right training, and delivering excellence in client services – to be successful in this industry.”

Here are the highlights of the TRAVELSAVERS CANADA survey results:

Agencies planning to hire advisors over the next year

● 53% yes

● 36% maybe

● 11% no

Number of advisor agencies plan to hire

● 35% one

● 35% two or three

● 5% four or more

● 25% as many good ones as we can find

Ease finding qualified candidates

● 2% say it’s easy

● 0% say it’s often easy

● 31% say it’s sometimes easy

● 33% say it’s rarely easy

● 33% say it’s not easy

Problems with finding candidates

● 59% don’t have the right combination of skills

● 59% pay not high enough

● 32% just want to travel for free

● 30% are not willing to work hard to establish themselves

● 23% of people don’t know the travel advisor profession still exists

Methods for finding candidates

● 56% referrals

● 47% job listings

● 36% social media posts

● 33% networking

● 18% leads from consortium (TRAVELSAVERS Canada)

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